Protector for pneumatic tires.



S. F. MILLARD. PROTECTOR FOR PNEUMATIC TIRES.

. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1918. 1,288,109., Patented Dec. 17,1918.

?EOTECTOR FOR P NEUIVHELTIC Application filed June 29, 1918.

To cZZ whom mar concern:

Be it known that i, SAMUEL F. MILLARD, a citizen oft-he ic nlted States,and a resident of Norm-ilk, in the county of l airfield 3 313., Chili?i'his nventi n relates to e. protector for ordinary pneumatic tires, andan object of i rention is to provide a resilient protector which isadopted to be mounted about the portion of an ordinary pneumatic tire,to protecting the tire and eliminating many the undesirable conditionscontingent with the use of pneumatic tires, such as punctures, blow-cutsor the like, and further to provide a tire protector which Will in noWay from the resilient shock absorbing procii ities of a pneumatic tire,

Another object, of the invention is to pro vide a tire protector, "whichmay he coir Venientiy ettec to any ordinary type of vehicle If ic tires,in such manner movement of means, and also which terms a resenting theso or mute means and scout -cuinetic Jject the invention is tocumuletion rial Within th the ordi s A further provide e protectingtread structure for pneumatic tires, w -ich will efiectively supefietedor flaccid for any Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through acart ot' the protector structure showing the manner of reinforcingportions thereof,

Fig, is Iregmentery section through modified form of the protectyetread.

listening more pertic'ulerly to the draw- Speeification of LettersPatent.

uld the ordinary pneu-" '3, Serial No. 242,571.

ings, A indicates an ordinary motor vehicle wheel, including the usualhub structure B, and radiating spokes C which are connected to the rimstructure i), carrying the ordinary type oi pneumatic tire Theprotective trend st -=:icture, includes the annular trend member 1 whichis constructed of resili nt material, preferably solid rubber,end-extends entirely about the tread portion of the tire E, having itsouter surface rounded, us clearly shown in Figs. 2

1 e J m uuu l or the drawings. ihe inner sum-ace of the resilientprotecting trend 1 is con cuycly cut to snugly of the tire E.

protecting tread 1 has annular outinc wurdiy curving flanges 2 formedthereon, which flanges are reinforced by metal plates 3 embedded thereinWhile the relatively thin pointed portion 4 of the tread 1 is alsoreinforced by urcuste reinforcing plates 5 which i also may he of metaland embedded therein r s;- the inner surface oi the protective t ed, esclearly shown in 3 oil the drc on go.

The outwardly curving attaching ranges 2, engaged by the dependinginwardly extending annular flanges 6 formed upon the attaching slates 7end 8. The attaching 7 and 8, are circular, heyii 3' their nner edgesbent inwardly as shown at 9, o snugly fit about the rim structure D ofthe Wheel A, to which they are attached, in any suitable manner. Theouter edges of the plates 7 and 8 are increased in thickness, as clearlyshown at 10, and the inner edges of these thickened portions providedwith annular recesses, which receive the tienges 2, whereby the plateswill be locked ,6 end 2 for securely connecting the tread member to theplates 7 and 8.

The annular recesses 12 are larger than the thickness of the flanges 11so as to permit limited resilient movement of the tread portion of thetread 1 Without movement of the plates T and 8. The icletes 7' and 8besides the tread portion their outer ends hinged as shown at 1-3 tometal straps 16. The metal straps 16 extend along and fit snugly againstthe outer surfaces oi the plates 7 and 8 and they have their lower endsbent inwardly to fit about the wheel rim D, as clearly shown in .l'io L.of the drawings. Each of the straps 16 has a substantiallysemi-cylindrical portion 17 formed upon its lower end, which tits aboutthe spokes C of the wheel structure A. The semi-cylindrical enlargements17 re con nected by means oi outwardly projecting flanges 18 formedthereon and bolts or other analogous attaching means 19 to se urelyattach the straps 16 to the spokes C of the whee. The upper ends of theSQYDlCf/lllldricai portions 17 and the adjacent portions of the straps16 lit snugly against the under or inner surface of the wheel rim D, toprevent outward movement of these straps, and also of the strips it withrespect to the wheel structure. The transverse openings 13 throughwhich. the strips 1% extend are wider than the thickness of the stripsti, so as to permit limited play of the tread with respect thereto. hestrips Ll ectend through cut-out portions 2) formed in the thickenedportions 10 of the plates 2 and 8. The inner portions of the plates 7and 8, which are bent inwardly to fit against the rim l) are providedwith cutout portions 21, which receive therein the nuts used forattaching the deinoinitable riin structure and also the tire T9 to thewheel in Fig. i or the drawings, a slight modification of the treadstructure is shown. T his tread i is provided with recesses 2 in itsinner surface adapted to receive and snugly tit about peripheralanti-skid projections 25 upon the tire in all other respects, the form lis identical with the form 1 illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 or thedrawings.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,it will be readily apparent that a resilient protecting tread has beenprovided for pneumatic tires, which will eliminate many of theinconvenienees contingent with the use of ordinary pneumatic tires, andone which will, in case the pneumatic tire should become flacciddeflated for any purpose, absorb the shock incidental to the use or thetire, and one which may be attached any ordinary vehicle wheel whichcarries pnei'iiatic tires,

without alteration of the wheel structure.

tjhanges in details may he made without reporting from the spirit orscope of this invention; but,

i claim:

1. The combination with an ordinary pneumatic tire and carrying wheeltherefor, of a resilient protecting; tread mounted about the treadportion of the tire and having annular outwardly extending flangesformed on its edges, and means engaging said flange. and inc-losing thetire for coniecting the resilient protecting tread to said wheelstructure. i

The combination with an rdinary pneumatic tire and the carrying wheelthere- :tor, of a resilient protecting tread mounted about the treadportion of the tire, means inclosing; the tire and detachably connectedto the wheel structure for holding the tread n'iounted about the tire,said means being connected to the resilient protecting tread to permitlimited yielding movement thereof independently of movement f theattaching means.

3. The combination with an ordinary pneumatic tire and carrying wheeltherefor, of a relatively thick resilient protecting tread. mountedabout the tread portion of the tire, outwardly extending annular flangesformed upon the inner edges of said tread, a-

pair of circular plates attached to the carryin wheel u on each side ofthe tire and 1nclosing the side portion of the latter, inwardlyextending flanges formed upon said plates and positioned in interlockingengagement with said tread carried flanges for connecting the tread tothe carrying wheel.-

l. The combination with 'an ordinary pneumatic tire and carryingwheeltherefor, of a resilient} protecting tread mounted about the treadportion of the tire, outwardly extending annular flanges formed upon theinner edges of saidtread, a pair of circular plates attached to thecarrying wheel upon each side of the tire, inwardly extending flangesformed upon said plates and positioned. in interlocking engagement withsaid tread carried flanges for connec= ing the tread to the carryingwheel, said tread provieed with transversely extending passagewaysspaced circumterentially about the same, inetal strips extending throughsaid. passageways, and spoke carried straps hingedly connected to theends of said strips.

5. The combination with an ordinary pneun'iatic tire and carrying wheeltherefor, of a resilient protecting tread mounted about the treadportion of the tire, outwardly extending annular flanges formed upon thein nor edges of said tread, a p of circular plates attache to thecarrying wheel upon each side of ne tire, inwardly extendinginseamformed upon said pistes and posin iteiiocking engagement with said itcarried flanges for connecting the t o tire carrying mheei, said tr edpror in trensrerseiy extendin passage 2" circumferentiaiiy about the ipsextending through said p poke carried straps iiingediy c he endsof saidstrips, said 1cpe: of greater depth than the 1 metal strips to permitFor '1 nt :5 the strips with respect 3. combination "with an ordinarypneugumio tire, one cerryii n Wheel therefor, of e orotecting tread ofresilient materi l; in. i d about the tread portion of a pneuin tire,said tread pr Yided with a pinreiity of eircumferentiaiiy spaced trons-36 verse passageways extending theretiirough,

s seated in said pesse eways and pro beyond i113 sides of the tread,spoke rried straps iiingediy connectedto the or said stri' s and adoptedto be con- 1 the spe es of the ce.rr ,*ing .Wiieei, combination with onordinary tire and the carrying wheel I of a r siiientprotecting treadmounted about t ie tr 21d portion of the tire, ":ir iy extending annuisrflanges formed we inner edges of said tread, said loided with recessesextending inroni. side thereof, attaching ciiebly attached to saidcarrying 35 provided Wit 1 means for engagienges to connect the platesto the 1 1rr dy extending flanges termed It-2T9 ins of said pistes ande2;- Tut-o said recesses, said flanges bethan the said recesses.

The combination with an ordinary 'sineuineti ire and carrying WhQGitherefor,

re 'liient protecting trend -1nounted about '5; 1e tread portion ofthetire, out- ,nnrdiy extending annular flanges formed o i edges of saidtrend, said with recesses extending inoni is opposite sides, attachingeched to the carrying Wheel and upon iii 5o their outer edges thickened,in-

ward site-riding flanges formed upon said edges end interlocking withsaid extendintread carried flanges, g flanges formed upon S- ih'ithickened portions tread married rece moination with an ordiimry e andcarrying Wheel therefor, protecting trend mounted about tion of thetire, outwardly e);-

r tiungesiormed upon the inid tread, said trend provided extendinginwardiy from its Wnrdiy e in the opposite sides, attaching pistesattached to tne carrying Wneei and having men: one

new

carried flanges, ii were formed upon the 0 ened portions one see riedrecesses, said eumferentieiiv ing openin tions for i 3 cndin of e,resiiient protecting about ti tread gsertioii o werdiy extending an uponthe inner edges of s trend p'ovit d with recesse werdiy from itsopposite pistes atte. bed to the csrr having tteir outer edges 7 ,werdiyextending formed n ti kened enges and interlocking viii outwardlyextending tread carried fie inwardly extending flanges formed L theouter ends or said tiiictened portions and seated in. said treadCtl'ilfifii recesses, said tread provided with oircunii erei' 541M,

spaced formed t cutout portions in ekeneo said straps having spo e engwformed up :1 their inner end ment Wit-i1 certain spokes o Wiieei, V

11. The combination with on. ordinary pneumatic tire and c therefor,

of a resilient protecting treoti mounted about the trend portion of thetire, and metaiiic attaching means inc-losing the side portion of thetire and connecting the resilient protecting trend to said Wiieei straotnre, said inetoiiic attaching means co ed to said tread to 3 r or onewith respect connected to'said treec and engaging said attach preventhiterei dispincer edge portions oftheette {META 1 "I J. J. r respect LOthe t

